95340: Poverty and its negative effects, and means of eliminating it in Islam

How can Islam fight poverty?.

Published Date: 2007-02-19

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

Poverty is one of the
calamities that Allaah has decreed should happen, either to a specific
person or a family or a society. Poverty has negative effects on people’s
beliefs and conduct. Many Christian missionaries exploit the poverty and
want of some peoples to spread Christianity among their ranks. Similarly,
immoral behaviour becomes widespread to a large extent because of poverty,
as a means of meeting people’s needs, so theft, murder, zina and sale of
haraam things become widespread. Undoubtedly these things have a negative
effect on individuals and societies. Allaah tells us that some of the
mushrikeen used to kill their children, the apples of their eyes, either
because of the poverty in which they were living or for fear of poverty that
might befall them. Allaah says of the first case (interpretation of the
meaning):

“kill not your children
because of poverty — We provide sustenance for you and for them”

[al-An’aam 6:151]

And He says of the second
case (interpretation of the meaning):

“And kill not your
children for fear of poverty. We shall provide for them as well as for you.
Surely, the killing of them is a great sin”

[al-Isra’ 17:31]

In al-Saheehayn
there is narrated the story of a woman of the Children of Israel who, when
she needed money and felt under pressure, she could not find anyone but her
paternal cousin who wanted to have his way with her in return for giving her
money. Then Allaah saved her from that after she reminded him of Allaah and
told him to fear Him.

Whatever the case, it is
well known that poverty leads to crimes and corruption. Many nations suffer
from it and are looking for solutions to this problem, but to no avail, and
there is no solution except in Islam, which brought rulings for all people
until the Hour begins.

Secondly:

The means that have been
prescribed by Islam to solve the problem of poverty and combat it are as
follows:

1 – Teaching people to
believe truly that provision comes from Allaah and that He is the Provider
(al-Razzaaq), and every calamity that Allaah decrees is for a reason, and
that the poor Muslim should be patient in bearing his calamity and strive to
relieve himself and his family of poverty.

Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“Verily, Allaah is the
All‑Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong”

[al-Dhaariyaat 51:58]

“And no moving (living)
creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allaah. And He
knows its dwelling place and its deposit (in the uterus or grave). All is in
a Clear Book (Al‑Lawh Al‑Mahfooz — the Book of Decrees with Allaah)”

[Hood 11:6]

“Who is he that can
provide for you if He should withhold His provision? Nay, but they continue
to be in pride, and (they) flee (from the truth)”

[al-Mulk 67:21]

“And indeed We have
honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and
have provided them with At‑Tayyibaat (lawful good things), and have
preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked
preferment”

[al-Isra’ 17:70]

It is because of these
beliefs that a man should bear with patience whatever befalls him of the
calamity of poverty, and turn to Allaah alone in seeking provision, and
accept the decree of Allaah, and strive to earn a living.

It was narrated that Suhayb
al-Roomi (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “How wonderful is the
situation of the believer, for all his affairs are good. If something good
happens to him, he gives thanks for it and that is good for him; if
something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good
for him.” Narrated by Muslim (2999).

We can understand the
effect of this belief on the Muslims by looking at what happens to others.
In Japan – for example – in 2003 thirty-three thousand people committed
suicide! And one of the main reasons for that was unemployment. In a report
on the BBC website on 1/9/2004 they said:

Official statistics show
that thirty-three thousand people killed themselves last year in Japan.
Japanese officials say that one of the reasons for this rise in the suicide
rate is the economic recession that Japan is facing, which is regarded as
the worst in fifty years. This has led to an unprecedented rise in
unemployment as well as a rise in cases of depression, especially among
middle-aged men. End quote.

Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“Truly, your Lord
enlarges the provision for whom He wills and straitens (for whom He wills).
Verily, He is Ever All‑Knower, All‑Seer of His slaves”

[al-Isra’ 17:30].

Ibn Katheer (may Allaah
have mercy on him) said:

The words of Allaah “Truly,
your Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills and straitens (for whom
He wills)” tell us that He, may He be exalted, is the Provider, the
Withholder and the Bestower, Who deals with His creation as He wills. He
grants independence of means to whomsoever He wills and makes poor
whomsoever He wills, with wisdom in that. Hence He says “Verily, He is
Ever All‑Knower, All‑Seer of His slaves” i.e., He knows and sees who
deserves to be rich and who deserves to be poor.

In some cases wealth may be
a means of letting people get carried away in sin and poverty may be a
punishment. We seek refuge with Allaah from both.

Tafseer Ibn Katheer
(5/71).

2 – Seeking refuge with
Allaah from poverty.

The Sunnah relates to us
what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do
and what he taught his ummah to do, which is seeking refuge with Allaah from
poverty, because of the effect that it has on a person, his family and his
society.

It was narrated that Muslim
ibn Abi Bakrah said: My father used to say following every prayer:
Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika min al-kufri wa’l-faqri wa ‘adhaab il-qabr
(O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from disbelief, poverty and the torment of
the grave), and I used to say them too. My father said: O my son, where did
you get this from? I said: From you. He said: The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say that following every
prayer.

Narrated by al-Nasaa’i
(1347); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i.

It was narrated from
‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say in his prayer: “Allaahumma
inni a’oodhi bika min al-ma’tham wa’l-maghram (O Allaah, I seek refuge
with You from sin and heavy debt).” Someone said to him: “How often you seek
refuge from heavy debt!” He said: “When a man gets into debt, he speak and
tells lies, and he makes a promise and breaks it.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari
(832) and Muslim (589).

3 – Encouragement to work
and earn a living, and to travel in the land to seek provision.

Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“He it is Who has made
the earth subservient to you (i.e. easy for you to walk, to live and to do
agriculture on it); so walk in the path thereof and eat of His provision.
And to Him will be the Resurrection”

[al-Mulk 67:15]

“Then when the (Jumu‘ah)
Salaah (prayer) is ended, you may disperse through the land, and seek the
Bounty of Allaah (by working), and remember Allaah much, that you may be
successful”

[al-Jumu’ah 63:10]

It was narrated from
al-Miqdaam (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No one ever eats any
food better than that which he has earned with his own hands. The Prophet of
Allaah Dawood (peace be upon him) ate that which he earned with his own
hands.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1966).

It was narrated from
al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwaam (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If one of you were
to take a rope and bring firewood on his back and sell it, thus preserving
his dignity, that is better for him than asking of people who may give to
him or withhold from him.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari
(1402).

4 – Making zakaah
obligatory on the wealth of the rich

Allaah has granted the poor
a share of zakaah, which is to be given to the poor to keep, and is to be
given until he becomes independent of means and is no longer poor.

Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“As-Sadaqaat (here it means Zakaah) are only for the Fuqaraa’
(poor), and Al‑Masaakeen (the poor) and those employed to collect (the
funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards
Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allaah’s
Cause (i.e. for Mujaahidoon — those fighting in a holy battle), and for the
wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by
Allaah. And Allaah is All-Knower, All-Wise”

[al-Tawbah 9:60]

“And those in whose
wealth there is a recognised right

25. For the beggar who
asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth (and his
means of living has been straitened)”

[al-Ma’aarij 70:24, 25].

5 – Encouragement to give
charity, set up waqfs and sponsor orphans and widows

Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“So keep your duty to
Allaah and fear Him as much as you can; listen and obey, and spend in
charity; that is better for yourselves. And whosoever is saved from his own
covetousness, then they are the successful ones”

[al-Taghaabun 64:16]

“and whatsoever you
spend of anything (in Allaah’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the
Best of providers”

[Saba’ 34:39]

“And whatever good you
send before you for yourselves (i.e. Nawaafil — non‑obligatory acts of
worship: prayers, charity, fasting, Hajj and ‘Umrah), you will certainly
find it with Allaah, better and greater in reward”

[al-Muzzammil 73:20]

It was narrated that ‘Adiyy
ibn Haatim said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) say: “Whoever among you can shield himself against the Fire, even
with half a date, let him do so.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1347) and Muslim
(1016).

It was narrated that Sahl
ibn Sa’d said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: “I and the one who sponsors an orphan will be like this
in Paradise” – and he gestured with his forefinger and middle finger,
holding them slightly apart.

Narrated by al-Bukhaari
(4998). Muslim (2983) narrated a similar report from the hadeeth of Abu
Hurayrah.

It was narrated that Abu
Hurayrah said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “The one who strives to help widows and the poor is like the one who
strives in jihad for the sake of Allaah and the one who prays at night and
the one who fasts during the day.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5038) and Muslim
(2982).

6 – Prohibition on riba
(usury), gambling and deceit in selling

Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Fear
Allaah and give up what remains (due to you) from Ribaa (from now onward) if
you are (really) believers.

279. And if you do not
do it, then take a notice of war from Allaah and His Messenger but if you
repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more
than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by
receiving less than your capital sums)”

[al-Baqarah 2:278-279]

“O you who believe!
Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al‑Ansaab
(stone altars for sacrifices to idols etc) and Al‑Azlaam (arrows for seeking
luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaytaan’s (Satan’s) handiwork. So
avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful”

[al-Maa'idah 5:90]

It was narrated from Abu
Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) passed by a pile of foodstuff; he put his hand in it and found
that it had gotten wet. He said, “What is this, O seller of the foodstuff?”
He said: It got rained on, O Messenger of Allaah. He said: “Why don’t you
put it on top of the food so that people can see it? Whoever deceives
(people) does not belong to me.”

Narrated by Muslim (102).

That is because if these
things are done and become widespread among people, it means that some are
taking people’s wealth unlawfully, and people may lose all their wealth
because of them. Hence the texts clearly forbid them.

7 – Encouragement to help
the needy and support the weak

It was narrated that
al-Nu’maan ibn Basheer said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The likeness of the believers in
their mutual love, mercy and compassion is that of the body; when one part
of it is in pain, the rest of the body joins it in restlessness and fever.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5665) and Muslim (2586).

It was narrated from Ibn
‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “He is not a Muslim who
eats his fill when his neighbour goes hungry.” Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in
al-Shu’ab (9251) and by others. Classed as hasan by al-Albaani.

In Muwatta’ al-Imam
Maalik (1742) it is narrated from Yahya ibn Sa’eed that ‘Umar ibn
al-Khattaab met Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah who was carrying some meat with him.
He said: What is this?

He said: O Ameer
al-Mu’mineen, we desired meat so I bought some meat for a dirham.

‘Umar said: Would one of
you want to fill his belly apart from his neighbour or his cousin? What
don’t you pay heed to the verse “You received your good things in the
life of the world, and you took your pleasure therein” [al-Ahqaaf 46:20]?

Finally:

This is a brief look at
poverty, which points to some of its bad effects. The Muslim knows that
poverty and richness, and whether things are given to one or withheld, are
all subject to the decree of Allaah. So he bears hardships with patience
when they come, and he thanks Allaah, may He be exalted, for good times when
he finds them. But he is required to work and seek to earn a living so as to
relieve himself and his family of poverty. But if someone is unable to do
that because of health reasons or problems in his land, then Islam relieves
him of poverty by means of zakaah and charity that are given by the rich.
This is the share of their wealth that the poor are entitled to.